TV in one room & computer in another - how to capture?

[Michelle]

I have no way of getting our TV equipment and computer together in the same room. I'm interested in ideas about how to get the video from the satellite receiver into the computer. We have a VCR but it can't capture the high quality of the video, so I don't want to use that.

[MrKGB]

just bring a cable from one room to another

[Bob W]

I was looking at a wireless 2.4GHz video/audeo system at CompUSA a week ago. It was cheap IMO or about $79.

[Michelle]

just bring a cable from one room to another

Do you mean s-video and audio cables? Can you get cables that long?

[Michelle]

I was looking at a wireless 2.4GHz video/audeo system at CompUSA a week ago. It was cheap IMO or about $79.

Do you remember what it's called? I don't live near a CompUSA.

[Bob W]

I was looking at a wireless 2.4GHz video/audeo system at CompUSA a week ago. It was cheap IMO or about $79.

Do you remember what it's called? I don't live near a CompUSA.

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=293147&pfp=BROWSE

[MrKGB]

If you have TV tuner card in your computer, then it has TV input, so you can use just a normal TV coaxial cable. Coax cable will work for many yards (meters), and it should provide better quality and be cheaper than any wireless solution.

[Ste]

Ya, that's the best way. Use a coaxial cable. If you don't have a coaxial input on your computer, put an old/cheap VCR next to your computer and run the coaxial cable into there. Then use the A/V outputs on the VCR to go to your capture card.

Broken VCRs work fine too. Usually it's the mechanical part that goes wrong with VCRs but the signal processing/tuning should still be fine. If you have one of those lying around, then use it and save some money.

[txpharoah]

I have both 100-foot RCA cables for special projects from the bedroom (no you perverts, not THAT KIND of special project) and a permanent rig-up with satellite out using a 50-foot coax through the attic from the next room over. Works great.

[keithsebastian]

Carefull if ur gonna use RF (coax) cables. The longer the cable, the more chances you have of encountering groundloop problems. If u ever have excessive hummng just ground your PC cabinet. Works just as fine as a standard isolator but without the associated signal loss.

[lgh529]

If you are less than 50 feet (15 meters), then get an S-video cable. They come in lengths that long. If your longer than that, you'll need to use a coaxial cable with RCA connectors on the end. They make these up to about 100 feet (30 meters), or you can make your own and go about 300 feet (90 meters).

For the audio, you will need to use RCA cables as well, but they start to get noisy at about 50 feet or 15 meters (sometimes they will work up to 100 feet or 30 meters if your lucky). I'm assuming that you don't live by high voltage transmission lines or a radio station. If you do, or if you have noise, then you'll have to isolate the audio with an isolation transformer. I think you can get those at Radio Shack.

If you want to move into the professional world, then you need an adapter that converts the S-Video connector (4 pin DIN) to 2 coaxial connectors. You would also need the reverse connector on the other end. Like the one Extron makes (see http://www.extron.com/product/product.asp?id=svideobnc). You could then run S-Video up to about 300 feet. However, the only people that actually do this at home are the same people who buy monster cable for their stereo systems.

Good luck.

[txpharoah]

Carefull if ur gonna use RF (coax) cables. The longer the cable, the more chances you have of encountering groundloop problems. If u ever have excessive hummng just ground your PC cabinet. Works just as fine as a standard isolator but without the associated signal loss.

Yes. Use RG6 gold reinforced and shielded cables, and it should minimize those kinds of effects. Basically, go to Radio Shack and spend the money for the good stuff. It'll run at least $60 for the cable.

[Michelle]

Are you guys suggesting coaxial cable out of the satellite receiver to the computer? Won't that give poor quality compared to S-video?

[Gazorgan]

You can get S-Video cables up to 50 feet, and you can get s-video spices to make it 100 feet. However, your going to need a video amplifier to go that far (between 25 and 50 feet you get signal degradation that has to be adjusted for). Audio cables going that far will need amplification also, not stereo amplicication, but line level amplication. (the Video amplifier usually does audio as well).

25 foot S-video cables aren't a RadioShack item, neither is the S-video splice if you need it. You can order off the web if you do a search.

[keithsebastian]

Are you guys suggesting coaxial cable out of the satellite receiver to the computer? Won't that give poor quality compared to S-video?

NO

[MikeV]

From working in the Video Security business, here are a few ideas to get your video from the sat to the PC.

RG-59 or RG-6 coax cable can be run over 300 ft. without any signal loss. Use standard "F" connectors on the ends and then get the "F" to RCA adapters and put on the ends. That takes care of the video, for the audio use good shielded audio cables found at most Electronics shops(Best Buy,etc). Keep both away from power cords and extension cords.

Do not use the wireless(2.4gig) units. They will pick up noise from microwaves and motors(blender,heater,fans,etc) that are in the area. Even had a motor from the neighbors cause noise on the wireless unit. Even some poorly built Ham radios and older car engines can cause noise.

[Michelle]

Are you guys suggesting coaxial cable out of the satellite receiver to the computer? Won't that give poor quality compared to S-video?

NO

I don't understand. Isn't it well known that s-video is better than coax?

[lgh529]

You are getting confused about coax. What everyone is saying is using coaxial type cable that is plugged into your s-video or composite (RCA) connector on the back of your satellite receiver. We are not talking about using the coaxial connector on your satellite receiver.

The good video cables that are factory made have RCA or S-video ends on them, but inside that fancy insulation, there is a coaxial cable. The cheap cables aren't coaxial, they're just two conductors that are unshielded.

Follow?

[Michelle]

Now I get it! Thank you for clearing that up.

[G-man]

MiniDV video camera with analog to digital converter built in (many mid level cameras have them). Record to the camera, then carry camera to PC and transfer via firewire. Quality will be retained.

[painkiller]

Michelle,

MikeV is quite right with a lot of good info. I would like to add just a few more points, though.

1) S-Video cables only carry video, not audio. So, you would be needing to connect TWO long cables if you use S-video. (S-video is, for the technically purists, the better for carrying top quality video "from here to there.")

2) Never "cut to fit" video cable of any kind. If you do, you have to know how to measure correctly, or else your video signal will degrade quickly. Always measure where you want to run the cable from and to, then buy cable that easily "fits", or goes beyond that length, This will assure good delivery of the video signal.

ttfn.

[painkiller]

Michelle,

Last point.

If you do have the (shelf) space near the computer, you may want to do what I did:

Run the video cable to the computer room, and connect it to a vcr, then connect that to the TV tuner card in the PC.

Works like a champ. After all, with a tuner card in the PC, and a tuner in the vcr - you really have two tv's right there anyway.

Have fun.

[txpharoah]

You are getting confused about coax. What everyone is saying is using coaxial type cable that is plugged into your s-video or composite (RCA) connector on the back of your satellite receiver. We are not talking about using the coaxial connector on your satellite receiver. The good video cables that are factory made have RCA or S-video ends on them, but inside that fancy insulation, there is a coaxial cable. The cheap cables aren't coaxial, they're just two conductors that are nshielded.
Follow?

Most good satellite recievers have s-video, rca (composite), and coax output. In fact, I run s-video/rca and coax output concurrently from my RCA receiver.

The s-video/rca is expensive enough when it's short, so those run to the tv in that room (to the VCR). The coax stretches into the next room, about 45 feet away with about 5 feet of slack in the cable. I can watch the receiver at the same time in both rooms if I stand in the doorway.

S-video is best, but only carries video.
RCA carries the audio. RCA can also carry video.
Coax carries them together on an intergrated wire.

Since this is just tv source anyway, buy a good coax as I suggest above (gold reinforced insulated/shielded RG6 coax - not RG55 junk), and it should look great, with no problems.

[BadAstronaut]

Confronted with this same problem, I was considering a CAT5 solution using baluns available at http://www.s-video.com/videobalun1.html

But I've never heard of anyone actually running A/V over CAT5, so I haven't made the leap of faith yet.

Anyone have any direct experience with this to share?

[Funkmaster Flow]

as most people said get a cable and connect it with your computer and your TV. with tool like Adobe Premiere or VirtualDub you can capture the input signal of your PC...

[subclubkid]

Ya, that's the best way. Use a coaxial cable. If you don't have a coaxial input on your computer, put an old/cheap VCR next to your computer and run the coaxial cable into there. Then use the A/V outputs on the VCR to go to your capture card.

Broken VCRs work fine too. Usually it's the mechanical part that goes wrong with VCRs but the signal processing/tuning should still be fine. If you have one of those lying around, then use it and save some money.

Hey I hate to get off topic, but is this true? Can I run the coax cable into my VCR and then just use the RCA output cables and plug them into my capture card and capture basic cable? How would I turn the channel? Sorry if this sounds dumb.

[lanwater]

how about a 2.7 gig audio video transmitter / receiver pair.

I am pretty sure that people would argue about noise but if pulling a cable is not an option may be this senario is worth looking at.

[MikeV]

BadAstronaut
I have used Cat5 to run video, audio, power, and alarm signal through a house. The house was prewired with Cat5 only and the customer wanted cameras and motion sensors installed. You get fair to good video with a color camera and good video with B/W camera. Not good if you want to capture and get DVD quality.

Using RG-59 is fine for use with composite video since the frequency response of composite video falls within the bandwith of RG-59 cable. Just use better quality cable. Two RG-59 cables can be used for S-video, just us a S-video to RCA adapters.

[troyvcd1]

I dont know what kind of cable you need but you look hot.

[keithsebastian]

I dont know what kind of cable you need but you look hot.

HA HA !